Holly caught my gaze and she flashed a thumbs-up sign.
“And so the fun begins.” I laughed, glancing around my parents’ new home.
The cottage was super cute, probably no more than a thousand square feet, and the complete opposite of my parents’ sprawling Illinois home. There was bright white exposed clapboard wrapping around the family room, and the glossy white Shaker kitchen cabinets made the entire home feel light and bright. The kitchen, dining room, and family room all opened into one another. With the cobalt blue and sea glass tile backsplash in the kitchen and on the fireplace surround, the cottage felt extra beachy, even though there was a bit of snow left on the deck.
I followed my sister and Nick out to the front yard where the movers were already starting to unload furniture. Between Nick, Mason, Ayden and the movers, my parents would be moved into their new place in no time.
One of the movers slid some boxes to the edge of the truck, and I grabbed a light one, marked master bedroom and walked into the house. My parents’ bedroom faced the water with double doors leading to the expansive deck.
I slid the box next to the far wall. Having my parents this close wouldn’t be so bad. Chance was right. It would definitely keep me on my toes.
And so would the trip to Portland. I didn’t know what to think about going to Oregon alone with Chance. It wasn’t that big of a deal if I didn’t want it to be, but I kind of wanted it to be.
I walked into the closet and saw a piece of crinkled newspaper folded on the corner shelf. The paper looked old and felt even older. The house was over a hundred years old, but I doubted the newspaper was quite that old. There was a photo of a woman on the front with a caption beneath the picture.
Dorothea Bensen, widow of Edward Bensen of New York, fell to her death on the eve of November eleventh.
I searched the top of the paper for a date, finally spotting 1929 and my heart sank.
“What did you find?” My mom’s voice startled me.
“This old article.” I carefully handed it to her. “I didn’t want to open the article all the way up in case it ripped.”
My mom nodded. “Isn’t it heartbreaking?”
“Definitely.” I glanced out the window.
“Back in those days, they didn’t like to call things as they were.” She pressed her lips together and drew in a deep breath. “Everyone was always afraid of the stigma involved.”
“Has much really changed?” I asked.
‘True. Our realtor told us that this young woman’s husband took his own life in Manhattan after losing their family’s fortune during the stock market crash. While many stocks didn’t recover in the days following Black Tuesday, his did, but it was too late.”
A shiver ran through me.
“The story goes that his widow was too grief stricken when word reached her about her husband. She jumped to her death when she received the news that most of their money was recovered days later.
“Why was the article in your closet?” I asked.
“This home belonged to Dorothea’s family.”
“She’s the ghost that people have claimed to see here?”
“So the story goes.”
“That doesn’t kind of freak you out?”
My mom’s lips fell into a scowl. “No. Not in the slightest. After you mentioned that the cottage was haunted, I asked our realtor about the rumors.”
I walked over to the French doors and looked out to see the rough waters below. I just couldn’t imagine.
“So sad,” I said, touching the cool glass.
“That kind of desperation and loneliness isn’t something to wish on your worst enemy.”
I nodded and took in a deep breath.
Another shiver drilled through me as my eyes fell to the jagged rocks below. It was as if the ghost of this woman was standing behind me as I watched the water rush in and out of the bay with the brutal fury that only nature could command.
“I’m really happy you and dad moved out here.” I turned around and gave my mom a big hug, trying to dismiss the odd feeling surrounding me.
“We wanted it to be a surprise.” She laughed, giving me another hug before taking a step back. ”Surprise.” She held her hands up in the air.
“Oh, it definitely was that.”
“So what about this Chance guy?” My mom never missed a beat.
“What about him?”
“I see the way he looks at you.”
“How’s that?”
“He’s really fond of you.”
“Well, his mother looks at me like that too. I think it’s just a family trait. They’re all really nice people.”
“I don’t think that’s it, but I won’t push.”
“You’d really like his mom. Hildie is quite the free spirit.”
“Is that so?”
I nodded.
“But she lives on another island?”
“She has a large lavender farm on Hound Island.”
“Are you talking about Hildie Harlen?” Tori asked, coming into the room with a large box.
“I was just telling my mom how much I think she’d like her.”
“Oh, without a doubt.” Tori nodded. “She’s a kick. Are things between you and Chance getting that serious?”
Tori slid the box next to the one I’d put down.
“Oh, not at all. We’re just friends. We’ve only known each other for a few weeks.” I shook my head, dismissing the whole conversation.
“For some reason I got the impression you two were getting serious.”
“Nope.”
I felt my mom’s eyes on me.
“I thought that would be odd for him to start a relationship before he takes over his comeback restaurant in Portland.”
“Comeback?” my mom questioned.
I quirked my head slightly, waiting for Tori’s reply. Her words were as much a surprise to me as my mom.
“Yeah. He had a restaurant before, but after his dad died, he went a bit wild and lost everything.” Tori slid her hands into her back pockets. “He’s an incredible chef and was actually kind of a celebrity chef before that was a thing. Chance was at the top of his game. I think I heard there was like a two-month waiting list to get a reservation. I’m sure Maddie can fill you in more as to why it’s such a big deal.” Tori glanced at me, and I dropped my eyes to the floor as horror filled my veins.
Everything about Chance and me had been all about me. Never once had I stopped to hear what might have shaped his life. I knew he helped his mom at the farm after his dad’s death and wanted to buy a restaurant, but I never asked why and he never offered.
To protect my heart, I’d known not to get too close to Chance and that had to change. Whether we stayed friends or moved to more, I had to get to know the real Chance. Hopefully, he’d give me the opportunity.
“Where would you like the bed?” A tall, bulky mover, dressed in blue pants and a matching shirt, came into the bedroom.
“I think right here.” My mom pointed at the far wall, which would allow the bed to overlook the water.
I heard the guys moving things out in the family room and followed Tori down the hall.
“Hey, you had kind of a startled look on your face back there,” Tori said, turning to face me in the family room. “Everything okay?”
“I actually didn’t know Chance had a restaurant before. We hadn’t covered that.”
Her hands flew to her mouth. “Oh, no. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“I’m glad you said something. It made me realize how little I actually know about him. He’s told me about the restaurant opportunity, but he never mentioned anything about losing his restaurant.”
“It was a really dark time for him.” She nodded and readjusted her bun. “Jake tried to help him, but he just went crashing down until he hit rock bottom.”
“What made him change?” I asked.
“I don’t know.” She glanced at Mason. “He came back to Hound Island and helped
build his mom’s farm. Now it’s a destination and the online store has grown so much it’s hard for them to keep up. He went through a lot. Maybe he was just tired of the lifestyle.” She studied my expression.
I nodded and watched four movers bring in my parents’ bed, twisting it on its side as they attempted to carry it down the hall without bumping into the walls. A sudden urge to see Chance overtook all common sense and I reached for my phone. I needed to see him and tell him a trip to Portland with him sounded like the perfect way to start the new year.
Chapter Sixteen
I was sitting in Billy’s Hound Dog Café waiting for Chance to arrive. I’d called to make sure Billy wasn’t actually in today, and as luck had it, he was out with his food truck in Seattle for some music festival.
Chance was definitely surprised to hear from me and agreed to lunch. It was only two days out from our Portland trip, so he probably thought I was about to cancel. I sat back on the red vinyl chair and looked around the café. A few of the other tables had filled since I arrived. Several cartoon hot dog paintings lined the turquoise wall in front of me. The place was edgy and looked a little more like a tattoo shop than a hot dog joint. It seemed perfectly fitting from what I knew of Billy.
Chance strode into the café, and my heart literally skipped a beat. He looked so carefree with his tousled blond hair and unshaven jawline. I thought Fireweed was the most laid-back place to live, but I wasn’t so sure anymore.
I stood up and waved at Chance. His smile widened, and he came over to give me a big hug.
“What a wonderful surprise,” he murmured close to my ear, his arm still wrapped around my waist.
“You were right about my parents moving to Fireweed. It’s a good thing.”
He took a step back and nodded.
“You don’t know how much you’ll miss them until they’re gone.” Chance sat down and smiled at the waitress who came over to get his drink order.
“Just a water.”
“Coming up, Chance.” She smiled at us both and left to go get his water.
“Popular man,” I teased.
“It’s not hard to become infamous on an island this small.”
“Infamous? Not famous?” My brow arched.
“Exactly.” Chance laughed and reclined in the chair.
“Now that sounds like a story I’d like to hear.”
“Doubtful.” He thanked the waitress for the water, and she went on to another table.
“No, I’m pretty sure how a Harlen brother becomes infamous is precisely a story I’d like to hear.”
“I told you I was wild. Let’s just leave it at that.”
“Wild like Billy?”
“Is there something you need to tell me about you and Billy?” His eyes brightened before narrowing to a suspicious squint.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” I teased.
“Actually, yeah.” He glanced over my shoulder. “I am even more wild than Billy could ever hope to be.”
“You’ve said that about yourself, but you haven’t shown me that side. In fact, I’d say you’re reserved, kind, and very tame.”
“Tame?” A smile tugged at his lips. “Mission accomplished. I’ve finally grown up.”
I shrugged. “Fine. I can always wait around until Billy comes back.”
“Would you really want me to break the news to him that you like my hot dog better than his?”
“Yours was a bratwurst.”
A twinkle appeared in his eye, and I couldn’t imagine a better place to be.
“I’m really looking forward to the Portland trip.”
“Me too.” He moved forward, propping his elbows on the table. “So . . . you’re not going to back out on me?”
“No.” I let out a feigned sigh. “I think you’ve sunk your hooks into me a little too deep.”
“How so?”
“I’m not even sure. I’ve tried to shake you, but I just can’t. You creep into all my thoughts so it’s almost easier to just be around you.”
“So you’re lazy.”
“Kind of,” I admitted.
“Is that the only reason?” He slid his arms off the table.
“No, I’m actually tired of talking about myself. I got stood up at the altar. Who cares? It’s not like I didn’t recover. Lost my business? So what? Now I’m doing what I want how I want.”
He slapped the table. “Well said.”
“And if it took a sexy as hell chef to remind me I still had a pulse, even better.”
“I’m not a chef anymore, which is what kind of concerns me about this Portland gig.”
“Once a chef, always a chef.”
“I’m not sure it’s that simple.”
“I am.”
He eyed me curiously. “Why do you say that?”
“You’ve been busy cheering me on. . . noticing the passion I have for growing my business.” A tightness in my throat took me by surprise and I pushed it down. “And you’ve been busy ignoring your own calling.”
“How do you figure?” He cocked his head.
“You haven’t been overly optimistic about this Portland opportunity. You seem to have more reasons why you shouldn’t do it than why you should when the most important reason is because you want to.”
“I know how difficult the restaurant business can be.” His voice lowered. “This wouldn’t be my first crack at it.”
“So you’ve owned a restaurant before?”
“This same one, actually.”
“Oh.”
The waitress came over to take our orders. I stuck with the dog I’d had at the Polar Bear Dip.
“The guy who bailed me out is looking to move to Arizona. It seemed like the perfect gateway back into my old world.”
“Why does he want to move?”
“His dad recently passed away and his mom is sick.”
I nodded.
“I had a good run at the business until my life went to hell.” His jaw tightened, and he glanced at the ketchup bottle sitting on the table. “I got into my own head and thought I was untouchable. You know how you told me you found your rock bottom and went even lower?”
I nodded.
“So did I. When my dad died, I went off the rails for a bit. Went a little crazy until it hit me that I was destroying everything about my life my father tried to help me build. He believed in me and I was just tossing it all away.”
“How so?” I asked, reaching out to his hand.
Chance’s blue eyes deepened as he brought his gaze to mine. “I had gotten quite the reputation in Portland.”
“You’re born to be a chef,” I said firmly.
“Yeah, my restaurant had a waitlist a mile long, but that wasn’t exactly what I was talking about.”
“Then what were you talking about?” I prodded.
“I realized I liked to party a little too much. The alcohol was cheap, and the nights were just beginning after the restaurant closed down at eleven. All the chefs from around town had a circuit we’d hit after we closed for the night.”
“I could see how that happened. You needed to relieve steam and what better way than to party?”
Pain darted through his gaze and he looked embarrassed.
“Except I didn’t know when to stop. I just kept going. Women, drinking, coming in late, missing product orders.” He shook his head in disgust. “I’d become a disgrace, and I knew I wanted to make my dad proud.”
“Your father would be proud of the man you’ve become.”
“He wouldn’t have been happy with what I did in Oregon. I really thought I was the shit and treated people horribly.”
I shook my head. “I can’t imagine that.”
“It’s true.” He let out a sigh. “If Brad hadn’t swooped in and bought my business from me, I don’t know what would have happened.”
“At least you could sell it.”
“I use that term loosely. Basically, he agreed to take on the debt in exchange for everything: the brand, r
estaurant equipment, lease, staff. I gave it to him and walked away. I wish I could say I never looked back, but I’d be lying.”
Hearing the story from Chance’s mouth put everything in perspective. His eyes met mine and I felt a longing to be with him. He’d been through so much and came out okay on the other end.
“Well, at least I know you weren’t lying about being wild,” I teased.
He laughed and shook his head.
“No, I definitely wasn’t lying about being wild.” He grimaced. “I’m not actually looking forward to being in my old stomping grounds for many reasons.”
“You broke a lot of hearts?” My chest tightened. I didn’t want to think of Chance loving ‘em and leaving ‘em.
“No, I was so messed up I don’t think any woman thought there was anything there but a good time.” He looked somewhat embarrassed again.
“You’re certainly full of surprises.” I grinned, taking a bite of the hot dog.
Chance’s was actually much better.
“Aren’t we all?”
“I guess so.” I took another bite.
“I blamed all my behavior on my dad’s death, but there’s a part of me that wonders if I was just using it as an excuse. I don’t want to go down there and fall into the same pattern.”
“Then don’t.” I took a sip of water. “I mean go down there, but make the decision to do better.”
“Just like that?”
“Just like that.”
“So you said I reminded you that you had a pulse?”
“Did I say that?” I feigned innocence.
“You did.” The fierceness behind his eyes did something to unhinge me.
The attraction was only getting stronger, but now hearing his story I knew it was more important than ever for him to pursue his dreams.
But I did have a pulse and it was speeding up by the second. Maybe I needed to think about this relationship in a new way. One where he’d awaken my senses, but neither of us expected anything long-term.
“You have a lot to be proud of,” I told him. “Most chefs never reach in a lifetime what you did in a short time. It’s quite an achievement. In fact, turning your mom’s farm into such a tourist destination is an achievement too. You’re just full of achievements.”
Chance at Love on Mystic Bay (Island County Series Book 6) Page 13